Connecting Ontario
ConnectingOntario is a secure,
provincial electronic health record (EHR) system that allows Ontario
clinicians, and authorized members of their healthcare teams, to access their
patients’ personal health information (e.g. lab results, diagnostic imaging
reports, discharge summaries, details of a prior visit to the emergency or
other department). Access to the viewer is restricted to those who provide or
assist with patient care. The program is funded and overseen by eHealth
Ontario. For more information on the ConnectingOntario program please visit: www.ConnectingOntario.ca.
Southlake Regional Health
Centre (Southlake) is a contributing organization and provides authorized
healthcare providers with access to the provincial EHR through the
ConnectingOntario ClinicalViewer. This is done to improve the patient
experience and ensure that hospital patients receive the care that we would
want for our loved ones.
Southlake, along with all
other organizations participating in the ConnectingOntario program, must follow
all applicable health privacy laws (including the Personal Health
Information and Protection Act, 2004) as well as the EHR privacy
policies and procedures.
Consent
Directives:
You have the right to block
access to your personal health record in the viewer by placing a consent
directive (often referred to as a lock-box). It is best to discuss the
implications of placing a consent directive with a member of your healthcare
team. Please note that a consent directive may be overridden with your express
consent, or in other circumstances permitted by law. Consent directives can be initiated
at Southlake in the Health Information Services Department, or directly with
eHealth Ontario at 1-866-250-1554.
Access and
Correction:
You have the right to request
copies of your health records contained in the viewer or request that your
record be corrected if you believe it contains an error. Please contact our Health Information Services
Department if your request relates to
information about a previous visit to Southlake. For all other access or
correction requests in the EHR, please refer to the eHealth Ontario website here.
Inquiries
and Complaints:
For privacy-related inquiries
and complaints about Southlake’s participation in the ConnectingOntario
program, please contact our Privacy Office at 905-895-4521 ext. 2395 or privacy@southlakeregional.org. For all
other inquiries and complaints about the EHR program or the viewer, please
refer to the eHealth Ontario website here.